The post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework has to put an end to the oppression of Indigenous Peoples
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| Illustration by Tsista Kennedy |
By Documentation and Information Network for Indigenous Peoples' Sustainability (DINIPS.org)
Indigenous Peoples have successfully managed their ecological investments to allow biodiverse species to autonomously continue developing their own genetic diversity in healthy ecosystems. The post 2020 GBF should work to end oppression of Indigenous Peoples and the women that lead them in more successful economic models of biodiversity protection through ecosystem health. This GBF could build on the CBD to include clarification of Indigenous Peoples' rights since the Convention was written. Access and Benefit Sharing should have the flexibility to be directly accessed by Indigenous Peoples in order to protect biodiversity.
Each Indigenous People determines that the benefits they seek are ecological and/or monetary. Ending oppression would allow Indigenous Peoples to maintain ecological systems that allow continued direct access to ecological benefits of biodiversity residing in ecosystems while ensuring that biodiversity increases. ABS can support biodiversity increases far from Peoples’ islands and coasts by ensuring that Indigenous Peoples are still able to make decisions about protecting marine life (resources) that visit their traditional fishing (economic) areas.
Indigenous Peoples have maintained sustainable institutions that develop wealth from marine ecosystems. They should be able to continue accessing benefits of biodiversity held in ecological trust for future generations. The GBF should support alternatives to the model of transferring wealth from ecological systems to financial systems that have driven biodiversity loss. States that ensure Indigenous Peoples' management of their ecological investments can promote biodiversity and share in the benefits, while realizing the CBD and its core instruments.
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